Josh Merril, an employee at the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter, holds one of the Shih Tzus rescued from a home in East Brunswick.

Written by

Cheryl Makin
| @CherylMakin

One of 64 Shih Tzus rescued from a flea-infested home in East Brunswick, a petite, black-and-white dog, looks up at her handlers with her big brown eyes and playfully tries to lick their hands.

Shaved and given medication to help with a severe eye infection and flea infestation, the dog is between 5 and 7 years old and very friendly, said Mychal Cielesz, director of the Helmetta Regional Animal Shelter.

Watching the dog play, run between animal shelter employee Josh Merril's legs and happily check out the floor area of the grooming room, Cielesz contemplates adding another dog to her brood of ...